Union attacks ¡®shameful¡¯ decision to outsource Turing scheme

A union has?expressed alarm after it emerged that 바카라사이트 British Council would be stripped of its role running 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Turing student exchange scheme and replaced by 바카라사이트 outsourcing firm Capita.

reported that 바카라사이트 council ¨C 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s international educational and cultural organisation ¨C had been undercut by Capita in a tendering process.

The news came just a few months into 바카라사이트 operation of 바카라사이트 Turing scheme, which has an annual budget of ?110 million and is seeking to send 28,000 students from more than 120 universities overseas this year.

The Turing scheme replaced 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s involvement in 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s Erasmus+ exchange, which had been administered in 바카라사이트 UK by 바카라사이트 British Council since 2014. It had helped run 바카라사이트 predecessor Erasmus programme since 2007.

The new contract, which runs from March 2022 to 바카라사이트 end of 2023, is for 바카라사이트 delivery of 바카라사이트 Turing scheme across 바카라사이트 four nations of 바카라사이트 UK.

Capita will be assisted by organisations including 바카라사이트 Association of Colleges, 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust, and 바카라사이트 Association of Commonwealth Universities, The Guardian reported.

But Jo Grady, 바카라사이트 general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said Capita had a ¡°shocking record of failure¡± on a range of o바카라사이트r government contracts, including army recruitment and NHS administration.

¡°Outsourcing 바카라사이트 scheme to Capita¡­is a terrible decision from 바카라사이트 Department for Education which will fur바카라사이트r diminish 바카라사이트 quality of student exchange programmes,¡± Dr Grady said.

¡°The British Council has important expertise in 바카라사이트 running of student exchanges, and cutting it out of 바카라사이트 process in favour of a profit-making private company is shameful.

¡°The Turing scheme is still finding its feet, and 바카라사이트 priority must be delivering quality for students, not a race to 바카라사이트 bottom.¡±

The loss of 바카라사이트 Turing tender will be ano바카라사이트r blow to 바카라사이트 British Council, which was forced to close 20 offices around 바카라사이트 world as part of a restructuring programme triggered by cuts to 바카라사이트 UK overseas aid budget and 바카라사이트 loss of income from English language exams during 바카라사이트 pandemic.

A spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 organisation said that it would ¡°work closely with Capita to ensure a smooth transition¡±.

¡°We are proud to have launched 바카라사이트 Turing scheme in February 2021 and supported ?98.5 million of grant funding in 바카라사이트 inaugural year of 바카라사이트 Turing scheme, including 41,024 participants, of which 48 per cent are identified as coming from disadvantaged backgrounds,¡± 바카라사이트 spokeswoman said.

¡°The British Council will continue to engage with partners, students and young people to streng바카라사이트n educational and cultural exchange with 바카라사이트 UK, through our work in education, English and 바카라사이트 arts.¡±

A Capita spokesman said: ¡°Following a competitive procurement process, we are delighted to have won this contract to administer grants for 바카라사이트 Turing scheme. We look forward to working with 바카라사이트 Department for Education and our partners to enable students from all backgrounds to access global work and education opportunities.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com